When I joined Kendriya Vidyalaya Khanapara (earlier known as Kendriya Vidyalaya Gauhati /Central School Gauhati) in Class VI in 1978, the school was functioning from its temporary premises at Ambari where we did not have proper infrastructure.

In 1979 the school shifted to its permanent location at Khanapara and we got all the infrastructure we had only dreamt of at Ambari — nice big classrooms, fairly large assembly area, huge playground and even a gymnasium.

Today when I look back, I thank my parents for sending me to this school, which made me look ahead and move on in life. There are so many memories and learning experiences which I cannot jot down in just a few words.

As we held our first-ever alumni meet, I must say that we have many alumni who made their alma mater proud.

There is Roopa Kudva, MD and CEO of Crisil who was voted as one of the power women of the country by India Today in 2010, and Emon Kalyan Dutta, a renowned psychiatrist based in Atlanta. There is Ranjoy Boiragi, a Houston-based oil exploration expert as well as singers like Angarag Papon Mahanta, Mayukh Hazarika, Saswati Phukan.

I’m a proud KVKian and pray that KVK keeps on churning out such talented individuals.

KVK alumni walk down memory lane

Kendriya Vidyalaya Khanapara. Telegraph picture

The first-ever alumni meet of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Khanapara (KVK) was quite an emotional experience for those who attended, with a trip down memory lane.
More than 400 former students of the school relived the past at the two-day reunion held on November 24 and 25. Day One started with the alumni joining present students and teachers on the school playground for the assembly at 7.30am. On behalf of the past pupils, Gautam Sarma, a former student, addressed the gathering and prizes were given away to the winners of an art competition, organised by the alumni, among the present students.

After the assembly, chairman of the KVK Alumni Day Celebration Organising Committee Rajeeb Sharma hoisted the alumni flag in the presence of deputy commissioner of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (Guwahati region) K.J. Subba and principal of the school, Dolly Das. Football and volleyball matches were played between the past and the present students. Tree plantation and a quiz competition were also held on the occasion.

The function began around noon by observing a minute’s silence in the memory of departed teachers and alumni of the school. The present students staged a traditional Japanese dance, which drew huge applause from the audience. Then the school song was sung. Secretary of KVK Alumni Day Celebration Organising Committee Samarjit D. Neog delivered the welcome address and explained the objective of the meet. Principal Das also addressed the gathering. Several retired teachers of the school were then felicitated. The KVK Alumni Association was formally launched and a blood bank formed by the alumni was inaugurated by former principal M.N. Hazarika. The function concluded with a vote of thanks by Manoj Chakravarty, a member of the KVK Alumni Day Celebration Organising Committee.

A grand lunch was held on the school campus for the students and alumni, after which the past and present teachers and alumni together had lunch on the school campus,
KVK, which is among the oldest Kendriya Vidyalaya in the Northeast, was established in 1966. The school was earlier known as Central School, Gauhati. It initially started functioning from a temporary location at B. Borooah College, later at Cotton Collegiate School and then from another temporary accommodation at Ambari before shifting to its permanent campus at Khanapara.

“It is a moment of nostalgia as I can experience a flashback of memories. There was a time when we spent more time in school than at home,” said Dipankar Das, a former student. “We are on campus after almost two decades. This is the best way to strengthen the bond between alumni and alma mater,” he added. On the second day, a cultural evening was organised at Greenwood Resort at Khanapara where the past students performed. Some of the performers included renowned ghazal singer Anirbaan Das, Mayukh Hazarika and Suman Dutta of Guwahati-based band Moonwind.